Benson's external advisers

I mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago that the Cedar Rapids School District's facilities process (aka closing schools and redrawing attendance boundaries) is running on two tracks. There's the public process, with school board meetings, such as the one scheduled for 5 p.m. today at Grant Wood AEA, and open houses next month where the public can offer comments.

Then there's a second track, with Superintendent Dave Benson consulting what he calls "internal staff and external advisers."

I asked Benson during last week's editorial board confab to share the names of his external advisers. He didn't seem excited about the prospect, but, to his credit, did give most of the names. I would have blogged on this last week, but figured I needed to double check to make sure I wasn't missing anyone. I got confirmation of the full list today from the district.

There are nine prominent current and former business/civic leaders being consulted by Benson, including Tom Moore, executive director of African American Museum of Iowa; Pat Baird, retired AEGON USA president and CEO; Bob Kazimour  founder of RFK Transportation and the Kazimour Family Charitable Trust; Lee Clancey, former mayor and chamber president; Ralph Palmer, president of the Ar-Jay Center; local attorneys Jim Piersall and Jim Craig, who was also on the facilities committee that met this summer and fall; Gary Hinzman, director of correctional services for the 6th Judicial District; and Acme Graphics Chairman Emmett Scherrman.

"I've been real candid with people. I've been here two-and-a-half years now. I don't know your community as well as you know your community," Benson said, explaining why he is consulting with longtime community leaders. As of last week, he had met with group once.

Maybe folks who have lived here longer than I have can read these tea leaves and tell me what sort of advice this group will dispense. I know who they are - accomplished, respected, etc. --  but don't really know any of them well enough to guess how they'd view the issues at stake.

But I do know that Benson's final recommendation, expected Feb. 13,  will carry a ton of weight in the end. In fact, I'd be surprised if his plan doesn't become the plan approved by the board on March 12. So while we're all watching the public process, a likely more consequential process is going on behind the scenes.  And these are the players in that process.  

I know this topic hasn't been terribly popular in Commentistan lately, but weigh in if you like.